"older refrigerators, aged 15 to 25 years, will use some 750 to 1000kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy each year. "At the national average electric rate of about 13 cents per kWh, this works out to about $97-130 per year," he notes.

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They suggest getting a refrigerator large enough to hold all your food since one unit is far more efficient than two. In some parts of the country, you can get some money back for recycling older appliances.

If you need some extra cold storage space, especially around the holidays, you can keep that extra fridge. Plug it in a few days before you need it and unplug it when you aren't using it.